SOLICITATION NOTICE
66 -- HIGH RESOLUTION THERMO GRAVIMETRIC ANALYZER SYSTEM
- Notice Date
- 6/30/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Mountain Region Acquisition Division, 325 Broadway - MC3, Boulder, CO, 80305-3328
- ZIP Code
- 80305-3328
- Solicitation Number
- NB8530605645KAR
- Response Due
- 7/14/2006
- Archive Date
- 7/18/2006
- Description
- The U. S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) proposes to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), with TA Instruments to purchase a High Resolution Thermo Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA). The TGA must include a thermobalance, auto sampler, furnace, purge gas system, control computer, monitor, internet capability, installation, and training. The instrument must meet the following minimum specifications: a. Dynamic Resolution Control: Because the intended application involves studies of several closely coupled decomposition events, the instrument must be capable of automatically adjusting to sample decomposition. In particular, the instrument must include real-time dynamic heating control ? in which the heating rate is automatically and continuously changed by the instrument as decomposition (i.e., sample weight loss) progresses. b. Sensitivity: The instrument must be able to resolve weight changes of at least 0.1 micrograms. This sensitivity is required to differentiate small levels of impurities and variations between very small amounts of carbon nanotubes. Because of the sensitivity requirements, the instrument should drift no more than 10 g during heating. c. Rapid Thermal Control: The furnace must be able to heat extremely fast, to a temperature of 1200 ?C or higher. This requirement is critical for the intended research. Linear heating rates must be 500 ?C per minute or greater. The instrument should not overshoot temperature by more than 0.25 ?C and must correct within 10 seconds or less. The instrument must also be compatible with heating rates as slow as 0.5 ?C/min. Rapid cooling (Greater than or equal to 100 ?C/minute) is also needed. d. Auto sampling: The instrument must include an integrated robotic auto sampler. This instrument will be used for numerous measurements on different parts of a larger bulk specimen. The auto sampler is necessary to minimize operator interaction with the individual specimens. The instrument must be capable of performing a unique experiment on each sample within a sample tray. It is preferred that each tray house at least 10 individual samples. The auto sampler should be capable of directly punching sealed pans with samples in a contamination-free manner. The system must also have the ability to reject any pan that is not pierced. e. Weighing Capacity: Sample sizes ranging from 1 milligram to 1 gram are anticipated. The balance must be compatible with specimens across this entire range. The dynamic weighing range should be optimized to a maximum sample of 100 mg, allowing finer weighing with a small sample. f. Temperature Accuracy: Isothermal temperature accuracy should be 1 ?C or greater. Isothermal temperature precision should be 0.1 ?C or better. g. Gas Switching Capability: The unit must include the capability to apply different gases during measurement. This switching can be done externally, but gas flow rates must be controlled via digital mass flow controllers. The flow rate must be programmable within the operating software and the flow rate data must be able to be saved in the data file. The system must be capable of automatic buoyancy corrections for gas flow rate and temperature. h. Kinetics Calculations: The instrument must be capable of calculating and displaying (in real-time) decomposition kinetic parameters for the specimen under test, including activation energy. The instrument must be able to modulate the temperature of the sample quasi-isothermally (i.e., apply a sinusoidal temperature wave to the sample), allowing evaluation of decomposition kinetics in a single weight loss run. i. Vacuum Compatibility: The thermobalance and furnace must be capable of operating in a slight vacuum (10 to the negative 2 power Torr). j. Compatibility with Other Instrumentation: The instrument must be easily interfaced with other analytical instrumentation, most notably a mass spectrometer or FTIR spectrometer, to enable characterization of evolved gas constituents. k. Calibration: The instrument must utilize multiple points for temperature calibration, providing greater temperature accuracy over a wide temperature range. The instrument should also be capable of Curie Point temperature calibration using an integrated electromagnet. l. User Friendliness: The unit must be controlled via supplied data acquisition software. The software must be easy to operate, allowing the user to modify runs in progress, add segments to an active run, and have local control of start/stop. All software must be included with the unit. This procurement is being conducted per FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures (NTE $100K). TA Instruments produces the only TGA system that meets all of these specifications. This synopsis is issued for information only. No competitive solicitation is planned. Information submitted in response to this notice will be used solely to determine whether or not use of competitive procedures to fulfill this requirement would be in the Government's best interest and must address qualifications pertinent to this requirement. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing to the attention of Ms. Rima (e-mail preferred). Anticipated award date is July 17, 2006.
- Place of Performance
- Address: 325 BROADWAY, BOULDER, CO
- Zip Code: 80305
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 80305
- Record
- SN01081039-W 20060702/060630220357 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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